Tray Ration Heating System

[Wire Fox]

If you're unfamiliar and need a primer, check out the manufacturer's page...they have an absolutely excellent write-up: http://www.babingtontechnology.com/products/tray-ration-heater.html#.WcVEyxGpW70

I saw this the other day and was really intrigued by it. I like the idea of being able to run a field kitchen off of my HMMWV without having to get a dedicated MKT that won't be able to be safely towed by my HMMWV. If I were to decide that I need a bigger kitchen, the above heater is the same backbone of the M1102-based "Assault Kitchen." I haven't seen any signs of a real surplus market for it, so I was curious if anybody has seen these around or had any experience using the system. Right now, all I've found was a message from last year of a guy that was able to bring one to one of the GA rallys, and some eBay listings for oddball spare parts and some of the actual UGR H&S rations.

EDIT: Looks like they are out on the market. I'm finding some hits on GL having sold about 5 earlier this year in the $150-250 range, and a whole lot of them all through 2016. Seems like patience might pay off here, but definitely would love to hear of anyone that might be putting one of these to use!
EXTRA EDIT: To put further insult to this, one stand-alone TRH (no system) sold for $25 two months ago. I guess not many folks here have much interest in a cooking system that uses specialized MRE-like trays that feeds 13-50 people, depending on menu. I can understand that.

 

[SCSG-G4]

The KCLFF, designed to feed up to 125 troops has a ration heater as part of the system, running off of one MBU. Other components are an M-59 range and a single burner griddle. TM for the KCLFF is TM 10-7360-209-13P, which can be found on Liberated Manuals in PDF format, or on-line at > http://bulkfoodrecipes.tpub.com/TM-10-7360-209-13-P/

 

[Wire Fox]

Thanks for the enlightenment on the other system. There's some components of it I might want to expand with later, but right now, that Babington unit seems really neat with the burner they use on all of their appliances. It's also very convenient for me that it's nicely on rails to tie down into the HMMWV, and allegedly can be used on the move (haven't currently found where in the TM it states a procedure for this to confirm it can be safely done)

 

[SCSG-G4]

Babbington unit is different than the one provided with the original KCLFF, but achieves the same thing.

 

[rustystud]

Babbington unit is different than the one provided with the original KCLFF, but achieves the same thing.

Hey "SCSG-G4" . Since we're talking about small meal kits here, what would you recommend for my M35 truck. I plan on taking it to Alaska next summer and would like to be able to prepare meals on the trip. I already have the MRI/ water heater, but it is kind of to small for my son and me. Did the military have any units larger for just a few men ?

 

[SCSG-G4]

The Babbington Tray Ration Heater for 12 to 50 troops, or the unit shown in the KCLFF are the only ones I'm familiar with. The RAK-15 and it's slightly larger brother are out there, but not as common as before. They were built to go in armored vehicles for the crew to fix their meals, but they ate one at the time. For two or three people, I'd look at the Jet Boil stoves, or a Kelly Kettle if you will be stopping to eat - much smaller and lighter than the GI stuff.

 

[Garryowen17!!]

So the Maries were the first folks to use these back in the mid-1990s. As a CAV outfit we had a real hodge podge of kitchen systems and were really jealous of them. Kept trying to sneak a few through the supply system as CLIX. They do take a minute though. The idea was to load them up, take a ride in the sun, and eat hot chow on the objective. You could rig them to run off the vehicle fuel tank or an external fuel can. I have a memory of a slave cable to provide electric power, but I’m sure it could also be hard wired.

Anyway, Big Army seems to have finally caught on and included an improved model in the “Assault Kitchens” that are now being fielded to replace the old “Kit Company Level Field Feeding Systems” (KCLFFS). They are quite pricey new. You can adapt them for virtually any boil in container meal, and plenty of restaurant supply places sell suitably packaged food. I would expect it to be a bit before these are seen as surplus in any large numbers. You’ll see the Containerized Kitchens surplused first.

 

[Wolfen]

If you're unfamiliar and need a primer, check out the manufacturer's page...they have an absolutely excellent write-up: http://www.babingtontechnology.com/products/tray-ration-heater.html#.WcVEyxGpW70

I saw this the other day and was really intrigued by it. I like the idea of being able to run a field kitchen off of my HMMWV without having to get a dedicated MKT that won't be able to be safely towed by my HMMWV. If I were to decide that I need a bigger kitchen, the above heater is the same backbone of the M1102-based "Assault Kitchen." I haven't seen any signs of a real surplus market for it, so I was curious if anybody has seen these around or had any experience using the system. Right now, all I've found was a message from last year of a guy that was able to bring one to one of the GA rallys, and some eBay listings for oddball spare parts and some of the actual UGR H&S rations.

EDIT: Looks like they are out on the market. I'm finding some hits on GL having sold about 5 earlier this year in the $150-250 range, and a whole lot of them all through 2016. Seems like patience might pay off here, but definitely would love to hear of anyone that might be putting one of these to use!
EXTRA EDIT: To put further insult to this, one stand-alone TRH (no system) sold for $25 two months ago. I guess not many folks here have much interest in a cooking system that uses specialized MRE-like trays that feeds 13-50 people, depending on menu. I can understand that.

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